HISTORY OF THE STOUR NAVIGATION

摘要

The river stour, which forms the boundary between Essex and Suffolk for much of its length, was probably navigated in places by small craft its natural state at least as long ago as the 16th Century. Following several early proposals which did not lead to any actual works, improvement for full navigation was authorised by an Act of 1705. By about four years later the river was open from the estuary at Manningtree to Sudbury, with 13 wooden-chambered locks 95ft by 10ft 9in (long enough to take two of the local river craft known as lighters) plus a further 13 more primitive flash-locks consisting of a single movable barrier.